Pull out hand setting mechanism for a timepiece

ABSTRACT

A PULL OUT HAND SETTING MECHANISM FOR A TIMEPIECE COMPRISES A SETTING STEM, A SLIDING PINION AND A SETTING LEVER OPERATABLE BY THE SETTING STEM. THE LEVER AND A SPRING THEREFORE CONSISTS OF A SINGLE PIECE BENT INTO THE SHAPE OF A HAIRPIN. THE LEVER AND THE SETTING STEM ARE PREFERABLY MOUNTED ON A COMMON STAR HELD AXIALLY BY A SPRING ARM MOUNTED ON THE TIMEPIECE MOVEMENT BY A SINGLE SCREW.

Dec. 14, 1971 V B LL 3,626,688

PULL CUT HAND SETTING MECHANISM FOR A TIMEPIECE Filed March 31, 1970 a F/G.2

United States Patent 3,626,688 PULL OUT HAND SETTING MECHANISM FOR A TIMEPIECE Georges Bullat, Fontainemelon, Switzerland, assignor to Fabrique dHorlogerie de Fontainemelon S.A., Fontainemelon, Switzerland Filed Mar. 31, 1970, Ser. No. 24,180 Claims priority, application Switzerland, May 28, 1969, 8,073/ 69 Int. Cl. G04]: 27/04 US. CI. 5868 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pull out hand setting mechanism for a timepiece comprises a setting stem, a sliding pinion and a setting lever operatable by the setting stem. The lever and a spring therefore consists of a single piece bent into the shape of a hairpin. The lever and the setting stem are preferably mounted on a common star held axially by a spring arm mounted on the timepiece movement by a single screw.

The invention relates to mechanisms for setting the readings of timepieces.

Pull-out hand-setting mechanisms used up to date com prise a setting-lever, a return-bar and a lever spring. The replacement of these three parts by a single piece having a sprung part has already been proposed. Such devices, however, do not function in a satisfactory manner and are fragile. In fact, a point of support must be used, against which the free end of the spring firstly slides in order to then engage in a groove made in the end of the spring, so as to camber the spring held by its two ends. Because of the strong tension exerted on the spring, a slight error in adjustment or a shock may cause the spring to come away from its point of support.

It is an object of this invention to simplify the mechanisms of the type used at present whilst avoiding the drawbacks sulfered by single-piece devices, and to facilitate the assembly of these mechanisms.

The invention therefore provides a pull-out setting mechanism for a timepiece comprising a setting stem, a sliding pinion and a setting lever operatable by the setting stern, wherein said lever and a spring therefor consist'of a single piece in the shape of a hairpin mounted coaxially with said setting lever.

The accompanying drawings show, by way of example, an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a plan view thereof.

FIG. 2 is a cross-section according to line II-II of FIG. 1.

In the drawings, a bottom plate 1 and a setting mechanism for a watch are partially shown. This mechanism comprises a conventional winding stem 2 on which a sliding pinion 3 with Breguet toothing is free to move, and provided with a groove 4 in which a setting-lever stud 5a of setting lever 5 engages. The return-bar or lever 6 and its spring are made in a single piece shaped like a hair-pin and bent round a stud 7, and the extremity 6a; of which engages in a groove in the sliding pinion 3. The setting lever 5 and lever spring 6 are fixed on a staff 8, freely turning in a hole 9 in the bottom-plate 1. The lever 6 freely turns on a shoulder of statf 8 and is axially held thereon by the setting lever 5 which is rivetted onto another shoulder of stalf 8. Parts 5, 6 and 8 are axially held together by a sprung arm 10 fixed to the bottom-plate by a screw 11. The mechanism is indicated by dark lines in the neutral or Patented Dec. 14, 1971 winding position and in broken lines in the hour-setting position. The lever spring is actuated by the setting-lever stud 5b which, at the end of its path, abuts against a shoulder 6b of the lever spring. In the neutral position the stud 5b remains against a second shoulder 60.

This mechanism is particularly advantageous from the point of view of manufacture and assembly. In fact, the setting-lever and the lever spring can be assembled before they are mounted onto the movement. They can be simply fabricated by stamping, then driven onto staff 8 using a centre punch, the unit thus obtained being delivered ready for mounting on the bottom-plate. The mounting is made on only one side and by a single screw 11, contrary to known mechanisms which necessarily require work to be carried out on both sides of the calibre.

What is claimed is:

1. A pull-out setting mechanism for a timepiece, comprising a bottom plate, an axially movable stem, a sliding pinion, a one-piece return lever and spring in the shape of a two-arm hairpin, one arm of said return lever and spring being pivotally mounted on said bottom plate and the other arm engaging said sliding pinion for sliding said pinion axially and a setting lever pivoted coaxially with said return lever and spring and having one end engaging said setting stem for movement thereby and another end engaging said return lever and spring to actuate said return lever and spring upon actuation of said setting lever by axial movement of said setting stem.

2. A setting mechanism according to claim 1, in which said return lever and spring and said setting lever are assembled on a common stud which provides pivots for said levers.

3. A setting mechanism according to claim 2, in which said stud fits into a hole in said bottom plate and in which a spring arm secured to said bottom plate engages said stud to hold said stud and said levers assembled on said bottom plate.

4. A setting mechanism according to claim 3, in which said spring arm is secured on said bottom plate by a single screw.

5. A setting mechanism according to claim 1, in which a stud on said bottom plate engages in the bend of said return lever and spring.

6. A setting mechanism according to claim 5, in which a projection on said setting lever engages an edge surface of said other arm of said return lever and spring for actuation thereof. 7

7. A setting mechanism according to claim 6, in which said projection on said setting lever slides along said edge of said return lever and spring, and in which shoulders on said edge limit movement of said projection along said edge.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,412,493 12/1946 Carlstrom 5868 966,149 8/1910 Wolf 5868 1,378,408 5/1921 Fraund 5868 FOREIGN PATENTS 917,984 1/1947 France 5868 154,233 4/1932 Switzerland 5867 447,959 3/1968 Switzerland 5863 48,731 9/ 1909 Switzerland 5868 805,552 9/ 1918 Switzerland 5868 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner G. H. MILLER, 1a., Assistant Examiner 

